Varsha Narayan - NTS Literature Response Journal - 1821309 (1)

Number the Stars

Reflection Journal

By: Varsha Narayan

Building Background
Knowledge

Learning Target: I can compare and contrast two or more
characters, settings, or events in a story, drawing on specific
details in the text.

Background of this Story:
In some countries around the world the government is

called a dictatorship. In a dictatorship, one person or a small
group of people have complete control of the country. In many
cases the military enforces the control. If a person does not
follow the rules, they may be arrested, threatened, scared, or
tortured. The citizens of that country are not allowed to talk or
act against the dictatorship. A person can be rewarded if they
tell the dictatorship about other people who are against the
government.

Interpretive Question: How does the dictatorship
system of government in the story affect Pedro, his
family, and the citizens it governs?

R Restate the Question (green) Mrs. Rodriguez’s Example
- Read the question or prompt In the book, The Composition,
- Underline keywords Pedro, his family, and their entire
- Rewrite the question as a community are negatively affected by
statement using your own words the dictatorship government. One
example from the text of the problems
A Answer the Question (green) that the dictatorship caused can be
- Answer the question found on page 8. Don Daniel was
*If there is more that one part of dragged down the street by two men
the question, make sure to answer who were “pointing machine guns at
ALL parts. him.” This clearly shows that the
dictatorship is treating the people in
C Cite Evidence (yellows) the community poorly by threatening
- Use evidence from the text to them with weapons. Pedro’s parents
support your answer. lived in fear that they would be caught
-Include both paraphrased going against the government. They
evidence and direct quotes had to turn their radio down very low
so that they wouldn’t be caught
Possible evidence starters: listening. Pedro’s mom was so scared
According to the text… that she “cried silently at the table.”
For example… This is further evidence that the
On page ___ it says… government was making the people
Further support can be found... live in fear and even their daily tasks
In the article/ chapter it states... are being impacted. Finally, Pedro
himself was negatively affected by the
E Explain (reds) government. He was put in the
- Explain how each piece of text position of having to lie on his
evidence supports your answer. composition so that his parents
wouldn’t be caught. The dictatorship
Possible explain starters: tried to turn children against their
This clearly shows that… own parents. Obviously, the
This means that… dictatorship created fear and
This further supports the idea that… hardships for everyone that Pedro was
close to in his life.
S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Building Background
Knowledge

World War II and
the Holocaust

Learning Target: I can provide a summary of the text that
includes the main ideas and key details, as well as other
important information.

Summary of the article:
The article “World War II and the Holocaust” shows

how Adolf Hitler set out to rule the world. He came into power
in 1933 and began to promote and encourage discrimination
of Jews in Germany. Starting in 1941, Jewish people were
forced to vacate their homes and be shipped to concentration
camps. In these camps over 6 million people died. He joined
forces with Japan and Italy. When Japan bombed Pearl
Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States entered the
war and fought against the Axis powers until _________when

Building Background
Knowledge

Underground
Movements

Learning Target: I can explain the relationships or interactions
between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a
historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific
information in the text.

How have underground movements affected events

throughout history? Many Nazis’ The
goals were underground
Underground thwarted by the resistance
Railroad underground gathered secret
resistance Nazi files and
sabotaged them.

Many slaves Underground World
escaped from Movements War II
their Nazi
Captors Slaves could stay in
safehouses to not
get caught and
escape

Building Background
Knowledge

Learning Target: I can compare and contrast two or more
characters, settings, or events in a story, drawing on specific
details in the text.

Background of this Story:
“For centuries, the Star of David was a symbol of Jewish

pride. But during World War II, Nazis used the Star to
segregate and terrorize the Jewish people. Except in
Denmark. When Nazi soldiers occupied his country, King
Christian X of Denmark committed himself to keeping all
Danes safe from harm. The bravery of the Danes and their
king has inspired many legends. The most enduring is the
legend of the yellow star, which symbolizes the loyalty and
fearless spirit of the king and his people.”

Source: Peachtree Publishers

Interpretive Question: How did King Christian X’s
response to the yellow Star order in the story
affect the citizens of Denmark?

R Restate the Question (green) Team Response:
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords In the book, The Yellow Star, King
- Rewrite the question as a Christian X’ response to the yellow star
statement using your own words order affected the citizens of Denmark in
positive and negative ways. Based on the
A Answer the Question (green) image found on page 15 & 16, it shows
- Answer the question King Christian X & all of the citizens
*If there is more that one part of wearing yellow stars. This shows that
the question, make sure to answer since the citizens and the king wore the
ALL parts. star, they cared about the jewish citizens
which means that the jews were being
C Cite Evidence (yellows) protected. On page 14, “‘We only have an
- Use evidence from the text to hour before I ride at dawn,’ the king said
support your answer. urgently. ‘Can you complete this task in
-Include both paraphrased time?’ ‘Yes, your Highness. I’ll begin
evidence and direct quotes immediately.’ The tailor bowed
respectfully.” This shows that the tailor
Possible evidence starters: was negatively affected because he had
According to the text… to sew yellow stars on all of the kings’
For example… wardrobe. King Christian X’s response to
On page ___ it says… the yellow star was both positive and
Further support can be found... negative.
In the article/ chapter it states...

E Explain (reds)
- Explain how each piece of text
evidence supports your answer.

Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that…
This means that…
This further supports the idea that…

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Number the
Stars

Interpretive
Question
Responses

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 1

How are the characters’ lives
different than ours?

R Restate the Question (green) In the book, Number the Stars, the
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords characters’ lives are different than ours
- Rewrite the question as a in many ways. One way their lives’ are
statement using your own words different than ours is when the German
soldiers stopped Annemarie and Ellen
A Answer the Question (green) and gave them orders. This would
- Answer the question never happen in our lives since we
*If there is more that one part of the don’t have soldiers in uniform walking
question, make sure to answer ALL around, ordering people to do
parts. things.On page 6 “There had been no
real coffee in Copenhagen since the
C Cite Evidence (yellows) beginning of the Nazi occupation. Not
- Use evidence from the text to even any real tea ...hot water flavored
support your answer. with herbs.” We still have tea and
-Include both paraphrased coffee in our lives. According to the
evidence and direct quotes text, “De Frie Danske- The Free
Danes- was an illegal newspaper.” In
Possible evidence starters: our lives’, if a newspaper was talking
According to the text… about something that was
For example… controversial, it wouldn’t get banned.
On page ___ it says… As you can see, there are many
Further support can be found... differences between our lives’ and the
In the article/ chapter it states... characters in Number the Stars.

E Explain (reds)
- Explain how each piece of text
evidence supports your answer.

Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that…
This means that…
This further supports the idea that…

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 2

How does this picture relate to the chapter?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
● I think it could represent the king and the queen from the

story that Annemarie was telling to Kristi
● Or it could represent the King of Denmark when Annemarie

was thinking.

Learning Target: I can determine a theme of a story from details in the text,
including how characters in a story respond to challenges.

R Restate the Question (green) Chapter 3
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords “Now I think all of Denmark
- Rewrite the question as a must be the bodyguard for
statement using your own words the Jews as well.” What does

A Answer the Question (green) this mean?
- Answer the question
*If there is more that one part of Response:
the question, make sure to answer
ALL parts. I think the excerpt from Number the Stars
means that the Danes have to protect the
C Cite Evidence (yellows) Jews from the Nazis. I think this because in the
- Use evidence from the text to text it says “And now she - and all the Danes -
support your answer. were to be bodyguard of Ellen, and Ellen’s
-Include both paraphrased parents, and all of Denmark’s Jews. Would she
evidence and direct quotes die to protect them?” This shows that being
the bodyguard for the Jews means protecting
Possible evidence starters: them. In chapter 2, it says “ ’The boy looked
According to the text… right at the soldier and he said ‘All of Denmark
For example… is his bodyguard.’ ”.This shows that what
On page ___ it says… Annemarie had said is a metaphor for all the
Further support can be found... Jews. Clearly, the excerpt from Number the
In the article/ chapter it states... Stars means that they have to protect the
Jews.

E Explain (reds)
- Explain how each piece of text
evidence supports your answer.

Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that…
This means that…
This further supports the idea that…

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 4

How does this picture relate to the chapter?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
I think the fireworks represent when Annemarie went to Tivoli Gardens and
saw the fireworks. According to the text, “She remembered the music and the
brightly colored lights, the carousel and ice cream and especially the magnificent
fireworks in the evenings…” This shows that the fireworks could have been from
Annemarie’s time at the Tivoli Gardens.

Learning Target: I can compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or
events in a story, drawing on specific details in the text.

Chapter 5

Compare and contrast the Danish Citizens and Nazis.
The first attribute has been chosen for you. Choose at

least two additional attributes to compare.

Danish Attributes Nazi Soldiers
Citizens Being

Compared

The Danes are Feelings about the The Nazis are trying
protecting the Jews Jewish people to kill and torture the
by risking their lives
Nazis

The Danes speak The way they talk The Nazi Soldiers
calmly. talk in a very

aggressive manner.

The Danes adore Feelings about King The Nazis hate King
him.
Christian Christian X

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 6

How does this picture relate to the chapter?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
I think that the carton of cigarettes represent when Annemarie’s dad was talking to
Henrik, and using the code word, cigarettes as a term for Ellen and the jews.

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 7-8
How does war change people?
Why?
Restate the Question (green)
R
A - Read the question or prompt War changes people in negative ways. In
C - Underline keywords chapter 2 it affected Peter, Lise’s fiancé “Once
- Rewrite the question as a he had been like a fun loving older brother to
E statement using your own words Annemarie and Kirsti, teasing and tickling,

Answer the Question (green) always a source of foolishness and pranks.

- Answer the question Now he still stopped by the apartment often,

*If there is more that one part of and his greetings to the girls were warm and
the question, make sure to answer smiling, but he was usually in a hurry, talking
ALL parts. quickly to Mama and Papa about things

Cite Evidence (yellows) Annemarie didn’t understand” This shows that
- Use evidence from the text to Peter had changed after the war because he

support your answer. was in a rush. Annemarie’s dad had changed,

-Include both paraphrased too. On chapter 2, page 4, it says “Papa had
evidence and direct quotes changed, too. He seemed much older and very

Possible evidence starters: tired, defeated.” This shows that her dad is

According to the text… quite different after the war. On chapter 5, it
For example… says “ ‘Quiet! Let her speak for herself. Your
On page ___ it says… name?’ He was glaring at Ellen. Ellen
Further support can be found... swallowed. ‘Lise,’ she said, and cleared her
In the article/ chapter it states...

throat. ‘Lise Johansen.’ “ This shows that war

Explain (reds) can cause people to lie. War affects and
- Explain how each piece of text changes people in negative ways.

evidence supports your answer.

Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that…
This means that…
This further supports the idea that…

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Learning Target: I can determine a theme of a story, from details in the text,
including how characters in a story respond to challenges.

Chapter 9-10

Compare and contrast Mama and
Annemarie and how they faced the
challenges when the German soldiers

came to the “funeral.”

Mama Attributes Annemarie
Being

Compared

“ ‘It seems odd to me that you Their way of answering the “ ‘Who died?’ he asked
have closed this coffin up so questions from the officer harshly. No one answered…..
tightly.’ …‘Let us open it She swallowed. ‘My
up...’...’You’re right’ she said. How they felt when the great-aunt Birte,’she lied, in a
‘The doctor said it should be soldiers came in. firm voice.”(pg.84)
closed because Aunt Birte
died of typhus, and he said ‘My great-aunt Birte,’she lied,
that the germs would still be in a firm voice.”(pg.84)
there… ...Surely typhus
germs wouldn’t linger in a
dead person!..Of course we
will open the casket!’ (pg. 85)

“ ‘There has been a death’
Mama’s voice replied calmly.’

“ (pg. 83)

“Motionless, silent, one hand How they reacted when a “ ‘Mama!’ Annemarie cried.”
to her cheek, Mama soldier slapped Mama This shows that Annemarie is
listened…”
worried about her mother.

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

R Restate the Question (green) Chapter 11
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords When is telling the truth
- Rewrite the question as a important? When is not
statement using your own words
telling the truth important?
A Answer the Question (green)
- Answer the question We often hear from adults, friends, and
*If there is more that one part of teachers that you should never lie. That
the question, make sure to answer statement is true but in some situations, you
ALL parts. don’t have an option. In the book, Number the
Stars, there are lots of times where lying is
C Cite Evidence (yellows) important. For example, in chapter 5, “ ‘Your
- Use evidence from the text to names?’ the officer barked. ‘Annemarie
support your answer. Johansen. And this is my sister,-’ ‘Quiet! Let
-Include both paraphrased here speak for herself. Your name?’ He was
evidence and direct quotes glaring at Ellen. Ellen swallowed. ‘Lise,’ she
said, and cleared her throat. ‘Lise Johansen’.“
Possible evidence starters: In this excerpt, Ellen has to lie about her
According to the text… religion and her name. If she had told the truth,
For example… she would be taken away by the Nazis. Another
On page ___ it says… example is in chapter 10, “ ‘My Great-aunt
Further support can be found... Birte,’ she lied, in a firm voice.” If she hadn’t
In the article/ chapter it states... lied about Great-aunt Birte, the soldiers
would’ve found out that there was no
E Explain (reds) Great-aunt Birte. One last example that shows
- Explain how each piece of text that sometimes you need to lie is in chapter 5,
evidence supports your answer. “ ‘Ellen,’ she whispered urgently, ‘take your
necklace off!’ “ In this excerpt, Ellen is lying
Possible explain starters: about her religion to protect herself and her
This clearly shows that… friend’s family. As you can see, lying is not
This means that… always bad, if it means you can protect
This further supports the idea that… yourself.

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Learning Target: I can determine a theme of a story, from details in the text,
including how characters in a story respond to challenges.

Chapter 12-13

How does this text relate to Number the stars and
particularly Annemarie in chapter 13?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
● I think it means that if Annemarie is delivering the secret package, she is

saving a lot of people since it’s so important.
● Or Peter is like the man in the red bandana because he’s helping jews.

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

R Restate the Question (green) Chapter 14-15
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords What is the author’s purpose of
- Rewrite the question as a including the story of Little
statement using your own words Red Riding Hood during
Annemarie’s run through the
A Answer the Question (green) forest?
- Answer the question
*If there is more that one part of The author’s purpose of including the
the question, make sure to answer story, Little Red Riding Hood was to show how
ALL parts. Annamarie’s time in the woods relates to the
story of Little Red Riding Hood. There are
C Cite Evidence (yellows) many pieces of evidence in the text that can
- Use evidence from the text to prove this. For example, “ ‘ Then she heard... A
support your answer. growl… Annemarie heard footsteps…Four
-Include both paraphrased armed soldiers” This shows that the soldiers
evidence and direct quotes could represent the wolf in Little Red Riding
Hood. On page 112, it says “Then she heard...
Possible evidence starters: A growl… Annemarie heard footsteps….she
According to the text… heard a low growl” This shows that the dogs
For example… could represent the wolf in the story, too.
On page ___ it says… According to the text, “A silly empty headed girl
Further support can be found... taking lunch to a fisherman, an uncle…’I want
In the article/ chapter it states... you to take a basket of food to your
grandmother.’ “ This means that the Uncle
E Explain (reds) Henrik could represent the sick grandma in the
- Explain how each piece of text story. Definitely, the story, Little Red Riding
evidence supports your answer. Hood, was important to include in Number the
Stars.
Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that…
This means that…
This further supports the idea that…

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Chapter 16-17 and
Afterword
Why does the author include the
“Afterword?” Why is it important
to read the afterword, especially
Restate the Question (green) in historical fiction books?
R
A - Read the question or prompt
C
- Underline keywords It is important to read the Afterword because it
E - Rewrite the question as a can give you an insight to what happened in
S statement using your own words real historical events and give you some

Answer the Question (green) context. For example, “The handkerchief as

- Answer the question well is a part of history. After the Nazis began
*If there is more that one part of to use police dogs to sniff out hidden
the question, make sure to answer passengers on the fishing boats, Swedish
ALL parts. scientists worked swiftly ... They created a

Cite Evidence (yellows) powerful powder composed of dried rabbit’s
- Use evidence from the text to blood and cocaine; “ This shows that reading

support your answer. the Afterword is important because most
-Include both paraphrased people would think that the handkerchief is
evidence and direct quotes something made up by the author, but if they

Possible evidence starters: read the Afterword, they can learn more about

According to the text… it. According to the text, “Peter Neilsen,
For example… though he is fictional, represents those
On page ___ it says… courageous and idealistic young people, so
Further support can be found... many of whom died at the hands of the
In the article/ chapter it states...

enemy.” Many people who didn’t read the

Explain (reds) afterword, would have thought that Peter was
- Explain how each piece of text just a fictional young man who fought in WW2
evidence supports your answer. in Number the Stars. Further support can be

Possible explain starters: found, “...were warned by the rabbi that they
This clearly shows that… were to be taken and “relocated” by the
This means that… Germans. The rabbi knew because a high
This further supports the idea that… German official told the Danish government,

which passed the information along to the

Sum it Up (green) leaders of the Jewish community. The name of

- Conclude your answer that German was G. F. Duckwitz, … “ This

- Link back to the topic sentence shows that if people didn’t read the Afterword,
using different words they would not have heard about the brave

Possible summary starters: German soldier who told them the info.

Clearly Definitely Certainly Definitely, reading the afterword in historical
To sum up In fact Obviously fiction books is very important.